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Open Poetry #20
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Midnitesun
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Gaia

0 posted 2002-05-21 12:37 PM


A River of Life

My name is Alamosa.
I am a Colorado river,
a natural life giver.
For years I’ve been polluted
by toxic heavy metals you’ve dumped
into my bloodstream
from heavy snow runoff
leaching evil elements from
gold mining fields.
You made me drink poison
day after day.
But something strange is happening now.
The drought you dread
is saving me.
Low snow pack and runoff
is preventing those toxics
from strangling me.
And now I dump myself freely
into the Terrace Reservoir,
where suddenly the fish are
thriving because
my chemical balance
has improved.
I’ve even changed colors,
from toxic metallic turquoise blue
to a natural green plankton hue.
Bugs are hatching near the shore.
Teeming Life abounds once more.
I am sorry that the drought
seems to be such a bother to you.
But sometimes, it can be
a miraculously wonderful thing, too.
You just have to see this event
from a different point of view.
My name is Alamosa,
and I am a river,
a natural giver
of life.
I thank God
for the drought.



© Copyright 2002 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved
ethome
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since 2000-05-14
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New Brunswick Canada
1 posted 2002-05-21 01:25 PM


This is a very precious write! I can't bear to see it slide down the board without some exposure to the minds and hearts of these free and independent thinking poetic people.
Everyone should read a piece like this...it's at the very heart of our existence!

Midnitesun
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2 posted 2002-05-21 03:36 PM


Eric, thank you! The board is very active, and I hesitated on posting this, thinking perhaps waiting a few days would have been better. Thank you so much for your reply! It brightened my day.
Saunni
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since 2000-07-11
Posts 1777
West Virginia
3 posted 2002-05-21 10:59 PM


Midnitesun, it's a shame our waters are sometimes destroyed by all that waste and garbage into them. It's nice to hear that water of life you speak of actually has life now. Extremely wonderful write! I find it sad to think God gives us these beauties and carelessness ruins these wonders.

Sauni:)The Only Time I See The Sun Is When I'm Within That Vanilla Breeze.The Only Time I'm One With The Sun Is When He Shelters Me From The Rain. L.S

Midnitesun
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4 posted 2002-05-21 11:36 PM


Thanks, Saunni. We really do have to take better care of our gifts. This is a true story, the idea for the poem came from a refreshing bit of news from a recent Rocky Mountain News article.  Sometimes, nature has its own way of reclaiming and reviving what man has screwed up by carelessness.
Mistletoe Angel
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5 posted 2002-05-21 11:36 PM




(tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Kacy, this is so very sad, sweet friend, being a Colorado native I know all about this river and the Arkansas River and it breaks my heart to see what God's created for us being destroyed! (sad sigh) I pray this summer we can get plenty of rain to make everything come clean at least for a while, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Kacy, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Midnitesun
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6 posted 2002-05-21 11:40 PM


Hey, Noah. Did you read that article? It was in Sunday or Monday, Rocky News, which I have been subscribing to online (free) for three months now. The irony is, this time, it was the lack of sufficient watery input that made a positive difference in the environmental health of the river.
ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
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Michigan, USA
7 posted 2002-05-21 11:44 PM


Life is precious in all it's miracles and forms. ThisDiamond
Mistletoe Angel
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8 posted 2002-05-21 11:48 PM




WOW!!! Oh my gosh, I didn't hear that, I get The Denver Post, which is the other of the two major local papers here, I'm not suprised, for now Mother Nature seems to be spring-cleaning itself! Now if only it can rain aagin so the poor little fish have a home again!



Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Midnitesun
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9 posted 2002-05-21 11:56 PM


Thank you, Diamond, for your reply.

Noah, yes, you need more rain. Should we go and seed some clouds, or wait for El Nino?

kaile
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singapore
10 posted 2002-05-22 01:56 PM


Kacy,

I dig the subtle sarcasm here..cos i'm like that in 'real' life...


Midnitesun
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11 posted 2002-05-22 02:01 PM


Hehe, I suppose I am too. I just blame it on my birth sign...I'm a double Scorpio, so I just can't help myself! Guess I can't use that as a legal defense though.
kaile
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12 posted 2002-05-22 02:23 PM


I'm a Virgo and some friends say Virgo guys reek of sarcasm..i don't know...

i wanted to say good night(it's way past 12pm here) and wish you a good day with many returns...

p/s: i must try to incorporate my sarcasm into my work somehow...i'm rather excited about this potential turn in my musings..

kaile
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13 posted 2002-05-22 02:25 PM


argh! i must be more sleepy than i thought..it's night at Singapore..i meant to say have a good rest-of-the-day!
Marge Tindal
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Florida's Foreverly Shores
14 posted 2002-05-22 02:47 PM


MidniteSun~
I LOVE the title of this ... and yes, the waters of our land are so vital to our very existence~
Nicely inspired piece dear poetess~
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
         noles1@totcon.com                    

bsquirrel
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15 posted 2002-05-22 03:52 PM


Love yr natural takes, Midnitesun.

She said burn ... together.
-TON

Midnitesun
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16 posted 2002-05-22 05:37 PM


Sleep tight, Kaile. And as for sarcasm, practice makes perfect.

Marge, thanks! Without the water, we will disappear, and only the hardiest bugs will remain.

Squirrels need quality water too.

[This message has been edited by Midnitesun (05-22-2002 05:38 PM).]

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